Shower stall fixture



July 28, 1964 1.. SKOKUT SHOWER STALL FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1961 [If I127. Y"

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ATTORN EYS July 28, 1964 L. SKOKUT 3,142,513

SHOWER STALL FIXTURE Filed Oct. 13. 1961 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LOUIS SKQKUT' AT'VOENEYS United States Patent Cffice 3,142,513 Patented Jvily 28, 1964 3,142,513 SHOWER STALL FIXTURE Louis Skokut, P.O. Box 424, Monongahela, Pa. Filed Oct. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 147,120 Claims. (Cl. 297-349) This invention relates to the general class of supports, and more specifically, the instant invention pertains to a bathroom fixture.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a bathroom fixture in the nature of a seat fora shower stall, the seat being neat in appearance and which occupies but little space when not in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seat for a shower stall, the seat being mounted on a swingable frame and being pivotal so as to fold against a shower stall wall when not in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shower stall seat of the type generally described supra, wherein the seat is provided with a backrest that is foldable against the seat when the seat is not in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a shower stall seat which is vertically adjustable to accommodate individuals of varying heights, and means for locking the seat in a preselected vertically-adjusted position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a shower stall seat with means for detachably connecting the seat with the shower stall wall or other vertical supporting means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shower stall seat which is swingable about a pivotal axis together with means for holding the seat in a preselected position relative to its axis.

This invention has, as still another object thereof, the provision of a shower stall seat with means for detachably connecting the same with the wall of the shower stall together with means for detachably connecting the seat to a corner of a shower stall or similar support means located externally of the shower stall.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a shower stall seat together with means formed in the seat for hanging or supporting the same from a vertical wall or other similar support means.

This invention proposes to provide a shower stall seat of the type to which reference has been briefly made wherein the seat is -non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a shower stall seat constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the shower stall seat shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the shower stall seat;

FIGURE 4 is a perspectvie view of a second form of a wall mounting bracket for the shower stall seat;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary crosssectional view, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially 'on the vertical plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5A is a perspective view of a modified form of mounting bracket for the shower stall seat, FIGURE 5A being adapted for use on an exterior corner;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a shower stall seat, together with its wall mounting brackets, the brackets and seat being constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the shower stall seat shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, and illustrating further features of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is'a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 9 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the corner bracket for supporting the seat constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of a seat and supporting bracket therefor constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal, medial, cross-sectional view of the seat bracket shown in FIGURE 11, FIG- URE 12 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 12-12 of FIGURE 11, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 13 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 13 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 13-13 of FIGURE 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 14 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 14-14 of FIGURE 12, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 15 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 15-15 of FIGURE 14, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 16 being taken substantially on the-horizontal plane of line 16-16 of FIGURE 12, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 17 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line '17-17 of FIGURE 12, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 20 designates, in general, a shower stall seat constructed in accordance with the teachings of the first embodiment of this invention. As is illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, inclusive, this form of the invention is seen to include upper and lower seat-supporting brackets 22, 24, respectively, which are adapted for installation in the corner of a shower stall generally designated at 26, the stall having right-angular intersecting walls 28, 30.

The upper and lower brackets 22, 24 are both channelshaped members and include pentagonal top and bottom plates 32'and 3:4, and 36, 38, respectively, which are coextent and are disposed in vertically-spaced and parallel planes. The top and bottom plates 32, 34 are bonded together by means of a three-sided bight 40 having walls 42, 44, 46 (see FIGURE 2), of which the side walls 42, 46 are disposed at right angles relative to each other. Screws 47 extend through the side walls 42, 46 and into the adjacent shower wall side walls 28, 30

Each of the plates 32, 34 is provided with a central, transversely-extending opening 48, 50, respectively, and from which are located a plurality of radially-spaced openings 52, 54, respectively, the openings 48, 50, and 52, 54 being coaxially aligned.

The top and bottom plates 36, 38 of the bracket 24 are formed with axially-aligned openings 56, 58, respectively, and these plates, as before, are interconnected by means of a three-sided bight 60 which includes the walls 61, 61', 61" of which the walls 61', 61" are disposed at right angles relative to each other for superimposition against the walls 28, 30 to which they are secured by means of screws 63.

Reference numeral 62 denotes an elongated substantially hollow tubular brace member which, at one end thereof, is formed with pairs of axially-spaced, diametrically-opposed openings 64, 66 and 68, 70, respectively (see FIGURES l and 3), and similar pairs of openings 72, 74 which extend through the member 62 adjacent the other end thereof.

Reference numeral 76 designates an elongated hollow tubular strut having a flattened end 78 which is embraced between the arms 80 (only one being shown) of a circular clamp 82 which surrounds the brace 62 adjacent the other end thereof. Conventional means 83 serve to clamp the arms 80 against the remotely-disposed sides of the flattened end 78. As is seen in FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawings, the strut 76 depends from the brace 62 inwardly toward the bracket 24, the longitudinal axes of the brace 62 and the strut 76 defining an acute angle therebetween. The other end of the strut 76 designated at 84 is bent at an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the strut 84 and is formed with a pair of diametrically-opposed openings 86, 88.

Connected to the means 83 is one end of a flexible chain or similar device, the other end of the chain 90 being connected to one end of an elongated pin 92.

The aforementioned other end of the brace 62 is flared, as at 94, in order to prevent the clamp 82 from being inadvertently displaced or separated therefrom.

As is seen in the several figures, the aforementioned first end of the brace 62 is adapted to be received within the bracket 22 with the opposed openings 64, 66 being positioned in alignment with the openings 48, 50. These aligned openings are now prepared to receive a pin 96 therethrough in order to afford a pivotal connection between the brace 62 and the bracket 22. In a similar manner, the brace 24 is adapted to receive therein the aforementioned other end 84 of the strut 76 with the openings 86, 88 being aligned with the openings 56, 58. These aligned openings are designed to receive a pin 98 therethrough in order to provide the pivotal connection therebetween.

Depending upon the desires of the user of the shower stall seat 20, the brace 62 and its associated strut 76 may be pivoted about the pins 96, 98 to any desired angle which affords alignment between the openings 68, 70- and any one of the pairs of openings 52, 54. When the desired angularity of the brace 62 and the strut 76 has been located, the aligned openings 52, 54 and 68, 70 receive therethrough a pin 100 whereby the brace 62 and the strut 76 are locked against movement relative to their respective brackets and also against movement relative to the immediately adjacent walls of the shower stall 28, 30, respectively. To prevent inadvertent loss of either of the pins 96 or 100, the same are preferably connected by means of a flexible chain 102.

Reference numeral 104 connotes an elongated substantially hollow tubular seat support which is adapted to be telescopically received within the brace 62. The support 104, adjacent one end thereof, is formed with a plurality of diametrically-opposed openings 106, 108, of which each pair of opposed openings 106, 108 is adapted to be adjustably aligned with the pair of openings 72, 74 formed in the brace 62. Axial adjustment of the support 104 relative to the brace 62 is obtained through the insertion of the pin 92 through the selected two pairs of openings.

Reference numerals 110 each denotes an inverted pyramidal seat support which may be formed of molded plastic, or the like, the supports being grooved at 112 on one of their respective inclined sides 114 to permit entry of a bolt 116. The seat supports 110 are mounted on the other end of the tubular support 104 in axiallyspaced and confronting relation and are secured thereon by means of bolts 116 which extend diametrically therethrough for threaded engagement in tapped sockets 118 (see FIGURE 2) formed in that side 120 of the supports 110 oppositely disposed with respect to the side 114. The bases 120 of the supports 110 lie in a common normally horizontal plane, and the supports have afiixed t0 the bases thereof or are otherwise integrally molded with a flat substantially rectangular seat 122.

To the remotely-disposed sides 124, 126 of the supports 110 are fixedly secured L-shaped brackets 128, each of which is formed with a leg portion 130 secured to the supports by screws or bolts 132. The brackets 128 each includes a foot portion 134 which projects upwardly beyond the plane of the seat 122.

A seat back 135, formed of plastic or other suitable materials, includes an inverted substantially U-shaped peripheral frame 136 (see FIGURES 2 and 5) comprising oppositely-disposed side walls 138, 140 and a bight 142. The lower ends of the frame 136 are off-set to serve a purpose to be described, and the lower end portions of each side wall 140 is removed, whereby the foot portion 134 of each bracket 128 may be fit flush against the adjacent ones of the bights 142. Bolts 144 and nuts 146 serve to pivotally connect the bights 142 with the foot portions 134 of the brackets 128. The construction is such that when the seat back is in its raised position, the foot portions 134 will be engaged by the lower ends of the side walls 138 to arrest pivotal movement of the seat back 135 beyond a slight obtuse angle with respect to the seat 122. Passing the seat back 135 beyond 90 degrees relative to the plane of the seat 122 provides greater comfort to the user.

With the brackets 22, 24 installed in the selected corner of a shower stall, the angularity of the seat 122 can be adjusted relative to either of the walls 28, 30 by pivotally swinging the tubular support 62 and its connected strut 76 about their respective pivot pins 96, 98. When satisfactorily adjusted, the degree of angularity of the seat 122 relative to either of the side Walls 28, 30 is maintained by the pin 100 which is passed through a selected aligned aperture 52, 54 and 68, 70. The extent to which the seat 122 projects from the corner formed at the intersection of the walls 28, 30 is adjustable, since the tubular support 104 is telescopically received within the brace 62, and the axial adjustment between the two is maintained by the pin 92 which passes through selected ones of the aligned openings 106, 108 and 72, 74.

As has been stated above, the seat back 135, when the device 20 is in its normal operating position, is raised to lend support to the users back, and after use, the seat back 135 is normally pivoted toward the seat 122.

When it is no longer desired to use the device 20, the pin 100 may be removed from the selected aligned apertures 52, 54 and 68, 70, after which the tubular brace 62 and the strut 76 may be swung about the pivot pin 96 toward either of the side walls 28, 30. At the same time, the pin 92 may be removed to permit the tubular support 104 to be rotated substantially 90 degrees within the tubular base 62 so that the seat back 135, when in its folded position, may be swung to engage against either of the side walls 28, 30. It is obvious from the above description that the device 20, when swung against either of the side walls 28, 30 leaves the shower stall substantially free of all encumbrances.

Still further, in the event that the user desires to remove the device 20, it is only necessary that the pins 96, 100 and 98 be removed, whereby the device may be conveniently stored. It will be noted that through the use of the connecting means 83, the strut 76 may be pivoted against the tubular brace 62 in order to reduce storage space.

FIGURE 4 of the drawings illustrates a wall bracket 200 which may be substituted for the brackets 22, 24 in the event the device 20 is to be mounted against one of the walls 28, 30, for example, instead of in the corner thereof. The wall bracket 200 is seen to comprise an elongated substantially channel-shap'ed member having a bight 202 from the longitudinally-extending marginal edges of which laterally project vertically-spaced and substantially parallel top and bottom plates 204, 206. The top and bottom plates 204, 206 are provided with centrallydisposed aligned and confronting openings 208, 210, respectively, and the plates 204, 206 are also each formed, respectively, with radially-spaced openings 212, 23.4 which are aligned with one another. Bolts 216 extend through the bight 202 to connect the bracket 200 flush against a selected side wall. In all other respects the shower stall s'eat 20 as shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, inclusive, and FIGURE 5, is identical.

FIGURE 5A illustrates a modified form of a support bracket for the shower stall seat 20, the bracket being designated, in general, by reference numeral 41. This top bracket includes an arcuate top plate 33 and a similar bottom plate 35, the two plates being vertically spaced from one another and having formed centrally therein a pair of aligned openings 49, 51. The plate 33 is also provided with a plurality of radially-extending circumferentially-spaced apertures 53, and the bottom plate 35 is formed with similar apertures 55. As is seen in the drawings, the apertures 53, 55 are aligned, one with another.

The two plates 33, 35 are held in vertically-spaced relation by means of an angle-shaped bight which includes the right-angularly-disposed bight walls 43, 45. Each of the bight walls is formed with a transversely-extending bolt or screw-receiving opening 57.

The' bracket 41 finds particular utility when it is desired to provide a seat within the bathroom or dressing room exteriorly of the shower. Thus, when the shower stall seat 20 has served its purpose within the shower stall, the same may be disconnected in the manner de scribed above and re-connected with an exteri'orlymounted bracket 41. It will be understood, of course, that a bottom bracket, having the same configuration, will also be provided.

FIGURES 6 to 10, inclusive, illustrate another embodiment of a shower stall seat constructed in accordance with this invention. The shower stall seat in these fig ures is designated, in general, by the reference numeral 300. The construction includes the provision of a pair of top and bottom wall mounting brackets 302, 304 for conmeeting the device flush against a shower stall seat 306. Each of the brackets 302, 304 is substantially L-shaped angle members having foot portions 308, apertured at 310, to receive bolts 312 therethrough. The leg portions 314 of the brackets 302, 304 are provided with centrally-disposed and aligned openings 316, respectively, and the upper bracket 302 has additional openings 318 extending transversely therethr'ough in radially-spaced relation relative to its central opening 316. If desired, each of the brackets 302, 304 may be integrally connected, adjacent their respective ends, with inset gussets 320 in order to afford some reinforcement thereto.

In the event the seat 300 is to be supported in a corner of a shower stall, then the bracket 322 (see FIGURE 10) will be substituted for the top bracket 302. The bracket 322 comprises a normallyhorizontal top plate 324 having a semicircular end 326 and a pair of sides 328, 330 disposed perpendicular with respect to one another. From the longitudinally-extending marginal edges of the sides 328, 330 depend side walls 332, 334, respectively. Bolts 336 extend through the walls 332, 334 to connect the same flush agianst the intersecting side walls 338, 340 forming a corner of the shower stall. The plate 324 is formed with a central opening 342 and a plurality of openings 344 are radially spaced therefrom. The lower bracket (not shown) of the corner mounting is identical with respect to the top bracket, except that it is not essential that the openings 344 be provided.

Reference numeral 346 designates, in general, an elongated substantially hollow tubular brace which is rectangular in transverse cross section. The brace 346 is seen to include the oppositely-disposed spaced and parallel top and bottom walls 348, 350 and the oppositely-disposed spaced and parallel side walls 352, 354. The brace is open throughout its length, and as is seen in FIGURE 8, the top and bottom walls 348, 350, adjacent one of their respective ends, are provided with threaded openings to receive a partially-threaded plug 356 therein. The unthreaded portion of the plug 356 projects, as is seen in the drawings, laterally away from the bottom wall 350. Lock nuts 35% are threaded on the threaded portion of the plug 356 and are tightened to bear against the adjacent sides of the top and bottom walls 348, 350, the nuts being employed to hold the plug 356 securely in place.

Reference numeral 360 designates, in general, an elongated substantially hollow tubular strut having a substan tially rectangular configuration in transverse cross section. As is seen in the several figures of the drawings, the strut 360 includes vertically-spaced and substantially parallel top and bottom walls 362, 364, respectively, and a pair of spaced and parallel side walls 366, 368;. One end of the strut 360 is offset, as is indicated at 370, the offset end forming an obtuse angle withrespe'ct to the balance of the strut 360. The offset end 370 has a plug 372 set therein, the plug 372 being identical in construction to the plug 356 previously described. As before, the plug 372 has an unthreaded end portion which projects laterally beyond the bottom wall 364.

The other end of the strut 360 has the top wall 362 and adjacent portions of the side walls 366, 368 cutaway at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 'of the strut. The cut-away end portion of the strut 360 is adapted to be welded or otherwise connected to the other end of the brace 346. As is clearly seen in FIG- URE 6, the bottom wall 364 extends a short distance beyond the cut-away portion of the brace 346 to pro vide a tab or closure member 374 which is bent perpendicularly to the bottom wall 364 for extension across the other end of the tubular brace 346. The arrangement and construction of the brace 346 and the strut 360 are such as to form an acute angle between the longitudinally extending axes thereof.

Positioned adjacent to, but spaced from the first-mentioned ends of the brace 346 and strut 360 is a substari tially vertical hollow rectangular cross-brace 376. Any conventional means may be used to secure'the cross brace in its respective position.

Reference numeral 378 designates a plurality of substantially triangular seat supports, each having a recess 380 formed therein, the recess terminating just short of one end of the support 278 to provide an'end wall 382. As is seen in the drawings, the seat supports 378 are arranged in pairs which diverge away from the side walls 366, 368 to which the end walls 382 are connected as by screws 384. The bases of the seat supports 378 are all disposed in a common plane.

Reference numeral 386 indicates a substantially rectangular seat having a continuous flange 388 depending therefrom." The seat 386 is seen to rest upon the bases of the seat supports 378 with the flange 388 surrounding the remotely-disposed sides of the pairs of seat supports 378. The seat 386 extends across and engages a ,portion of the top wall 348 of the brace 360 adjacent the aforementioned other end thereof. Screws 390 extend through the flange 388 on opposed sides of the seat and into the triangular seat supports 378 in order to securely mount the seat 386 thereon. The seat 386 is also formed with an opening 392 which extends transversely therethrough and which is aligned with an opening 394 which extends transversely through the top wall 348. The function of these openings will be explained below.

Assuming that the pairs of brackets 302, 304, or the brackets 322 are fixedly connected to a supporting surface, in the manner shown in FIGURES 7 and 10, the brace 346 and the strut 360 may be connected on the upper and lower wall brackets through the simple expedient of inserting the projecting ends of the plugs 356, 372 into the central apertures 316. The seat 386 thus becomes pivotally mounted thereon and may be swung in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIG- URE 7. When the seat 386 is no longer to be used, the same is detached from the brackets and may, if desired, be stored away by hanging the same from a nail or other protuberance which would be received within the aligned openings 392, 394. It is recognized, of course, that the openings 318 serve no utilitarian purpose in this particular construction, but the brackets may be used with other forms of this invention.

Reference numeral 400 designates a still further modification or embodiment of this invention, the shower stall seat being readily connectable with any of the brackets heretofore described. However, in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 the seat 400 is shown in association with still another bracket designated, generally by reference numeral 402.

The top bracket 402, in this instance, is designed to accommodate an external corner wall 404 of a shower stall or any other expressed corner in the bath or dressing room of an edifice. As is shown in the several figures of the drawings, the bracket 402 includes a substantially ogive top plate 406, the base end of which is formed with an inwardly-extending V-shaped recess 408 with the side walls thereof being disposed substantially at right angles relative to each other to receive the corner wall 404 therein. Obviously, the angle of the recess 408 could be modified to fit the angle of the corner 404, should it be other than 90 degrees.

The plate 406 is provided, adjacent the longitudinallyextending side of the recess 408, with right-angularlydisposed depending walls 410, 412 through which extend bolts 414 that are embedded in the corner wall 404.

The plate 406 is formed with a central opening 418 (see FIGURE 13) and a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced openings 420 which radiate thereabout.

The lower or bottom bracket connoted by reference numeral 422 is identical in all respects to the top bracket 402 with the exception of the provision of the openings 420. These have been omitted. Hence, the same reference numerals have been applied to the elements thereof with the addition of a prime mark to differentiate one from the other.

The shower stall seat 400 is seen to comprise an elongated hollow tubular brace 424 having a substantially rectangular configuration in transverse cross section, and which includes opposed vertically-spaced and parallel top and bottom walls 426, 428, respectively, and laterally spaced and parallel side walls 430, 432. The bottom wall 428 includes a vertical riser 434 adjacent one end thereof which terminates in a platform 436 extending parallel to the top wall 426. The side walls 430, 432 are shaped accordingly.

As is seen in FIGURE 12, the top wall 426 and the adjacent end of the platform 436 have rigidly secured thereto (as by welding) a plug 438, the latter projecting beyond the outer side of the platform.

Spaced inwardly from the plug 438, the platform 436 is formed with a first transversely-extending slot 440 (see FIGURES 12 and 16), and spaced inwardly therefrom is a second longitudinally-extending slot 442. Traversing the slot 442, and having its opposed ends supported on the side walls 430, 432 is a pivot pin 444. The

shank 446 of a V-shaped lever 448 is pivotally supported,

intermediate its ends, on the pin 444, and one arm 450 thereof is adapted for extension through and beyond the slot 440. To serve a function to be described, the shank 446, between the pin 444 and the arm 450, is formed with upright transversely-extending, axially-spaced shoulders 452, 454 (see FIGURE 16). The other arm 456 normally projects upwardly through a slot 458 formed in the top wall 426.

Referring now to FIGURES 12, 13, 16 and 17, it is seen that the arm 450 is constantly biased for movement outwardly through the slot 440 by resilient means 460. The means 460 takes the form of an elongated endless rubberband of the conventional type having central portions 462 thereof superimposed over that portion of the shank 446 disposed between the shoulders 452, 454, and its oppositely-disposed rounded bights 464, 466 are engaged around oppositely-disposed and diverging tabs 468, 470, respectively, which depend from the side walls 430, 432. Thus, the band 460 partially extends through the slot 442.

Telescoped within the brace 424 is a sliding bar 472 having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, and which is provided with a plurality of transversely-extending openings 474 longitudinally spaced, one from another. The openings 474 are adapted to be selectively aligned with an opening 476 extending transversely through the side wall 430 (see FIGURE 13).

Projecting laterally from the side wall 430 and located adjacent the opening 476 are a pair of spaced and substantially parallel standards 478, 480 which receive and support the opposed ends of a pivot pin 482. A lever 484 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on the pivot pin 482 and, as is seen in FIGURES 11, 12 and 13, one end of the lever 484 terminates in a lock arm 486 which is adapted to be extended through the opening 476 for engagement within a selected one of the openings 474 aligned therewith. The other end of the lever 484 terminates in an olfset finger-engageable arm or tab 488.

As in the case of the lever 448, the lever 484 is provided with resilient means which constantly bias the arm 486 for movement toward the opening 476. Here, again, the lever 484 is formed with a pair of laterally-projecting shoulders 490, 492 which are adapted to receive therebetween the central portion of a conventional rubberband 494, the bight ends 496 of which are adapted to engage around diverging tabs which project laterally from the side wa1l430.

To the outer end of the bar 472 is rigidly afiixed, as by welding, or by any other conventional means, a vertically-extending internally-threaded collar 500. The collar 500 is adapted to receive an elongated threaded bolt 502 which is held in axially-adjusted relation relative to the collar 500 by means of a wing bolt 504. The upper end of the bolt 502 is formed with a downward diametrically-extending slot 506.

Reference numeral 508 indicates a substantially cylindrical cap having a side wall 510 and an u per closure wall 512. Depending from the side wall 510 is a substantially U-shaped bracket 514 having diametrically-opposed parallel arms 516, 518 connected by a bight 520 at their adjacent lower ends. Integral with the upper ends of the arms 516, 518 and with adjacent portions of the cap 508 are a pair of cams 522, 524, respectively, having upwardly-converging cam surfaces 526, 528. An arcuate opening 530 is formed at the apex of the cam surfaces. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the cap 508 is normally supported on the u er end of the bolt 502 with the bracket 514 and the cams 522, 524 disposed within the slot 506. The side wall 510 surrounds the upper end of the bolt 502 and the bight 520 rests on the bottom of the slot 506. A screw 532 extends diametrically across the bolt 502 and traverses the upper end of the slot 502 to be normally received within the opening 530.

From the side wall 510 radiate a plurality of ribs 534 which, taken together with the closure Wall 512, support a substantially rectangular seat 536' havinga depending continuous peripheral flange 538.

Reference numeral 540' indicates an elongated hollow tubular strut having asubstantially rectangular transverse cross-sectional configuration. As isseen in the drawings, thestrut 540 includes a top wall 542,- opposed bottom wall 544, anda pair of laterally-spaced side walls 546, 548.- As in the previous embodiments of this invention, the'lower end of the strut 540- is bent at an obtuse angle with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the strut in the manner indicated at- 550-. Thisend of the strut isprovided with a plug- 552 which is retained therein in the same manner as the plug 438: The other end of the strut 540 has the top and side walls thereof cut away at an angle and joined'to" the Bottom wall 428 of'tlie brace 424. The bottom wall 5441's" formed with an upwardlyextending tab 554 which is also joined to the bottom wall 428 adjacent the outer end thereof.

The longitudinal axes of the brace 424 and strut 540 form an acute angle therebetween, and a reinforcing substantially hollow tubular cross-brace 556 having a substantially rectangular transverse cross-sectional configuration extends between the brace 424 and the strut 540. As is seen in FIGURE 12, the cross-brace includes the opposed pairs of side walls 558, 560 and 562, 564.

Assuming that the component elements of this embodiment of the invention are in the full-line positions shown, the user may change the angularity of the seat 400 by pressing the arm 567 downwardly, thereby raising the arm 450 out of one of the openings 420 after which the seat 400 may be rotated on the brackets 402, 422 on the plugs 438, 552 until a selected position has been obtained after which the arm 456 is released and the arm 450 engages the newly selected one of the openings 420. As has been mentioned above, the resilient means 460 constantly tend to urge the arm 450 for movement toward the plate 406 and to maintain the engagement of the arm within a preselected one of the openings 420.

While this invention serves admirably in a bath or dressing room, the construction is such that the seat 400 may be adapted for use in a shower stall, this being accomplished by using any one of the brackets described in previous embodiments of this invention.

When not in use, the seat 400 may be removed from its associated brackets and stored in any convenient place. When placing the seat 400 in storage or to obtain greater space in the bath or dressing room, the seat 536 may be changed from its normally horizontal full-line position shown in the several figures to its dotted-line position. To this end, the operator merely grasps the seat 536 and raises the same upwardly to cause the opening 530 to move away from the screw 532. This upward movement continues until the bight 520 has been raised a sufficient distance above the lower end of the slot 506 so as to permit the bight 520 to clear the lower end of the slot 506. When the bight 510 has been raised a sufiicient distance above the lower end of the slot 506, the seat 536 may now be swung around the screw 532 in such a manner as to cause one of hte arms 516, 518 to become engaged with the lower end of the slot 506, and disconnection of the seat 536 from the bolt 502 is prevented by engagement of the bight 520 with the screw 532.

Axial displacement of the bar 472 relative to the brace 424 is, of course, made possible through the operation of the lever 484, and the vertical adjustment of the seat 536 is maintained by the engagement of the wing bolt 504 with the bolt 502 which, of course, is axially shiftable within the collar 500.

Having described and illustrated a plurality of embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that the same are offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shower stall seat supported on a wall of said stall and'comprising, in combination, a first bracket fixedly secured to said wall, said first bracket having a horizontal plate' extending laterally therefrom, said plate havinga central opening extending transversely therethrough and a plurality of transversely-extending openin'gsspaced ra'dially therefrom, a second bracket fixedly secured to said wall below said first bracket, said second bracket including a horizontal plate extending laterally therefrom and having an opening extending transversely therethrough aligned with said central opening formed in said first plate, an elongated substantially hollow tubular brace; means on one end ofsaid brace insertable into said central opening to'detachably and pivotally connect sai'd brace to said first bracket, means on said one end of said brace insertable into said radially-spaced openings to hold said brace at any selected angle relative to said wall, an elongated tubular member telescopically mounted within said brace, means holding said member in fixed axiallyadjusted position relative to said brace, a normally horizontal seat, means connecting said seat with said member, a hollow tubular strut having one of its ends connected with said other end of said brace, the other end of said strut extending toward said one end of said brace, the longitudinal axes of said brace and strut forming an acute angle therebetween, and means on said other end of said strut insertable within said opening formed in said second bracket to detachably and pivotally connect said strut thereto.

2. A shower stall seat supported on a wall of said stall and comprising, in combination, a first bracket fixedly secured to said wall, said first bracket having a horizontal plate extending laterally therefrom, said plate having a central opening extending transversely therethrough and a plurality of transversely-extending openings spaced radially therefrom, a second bracket fixedly secured to said wall below said first bracket, said second bracket including a horizontal plate extending laterally therefrom and having an opening extending transversely therethrough aligned with said central opening formed in said first plate, an elongated substantially hollow tubular brace, means on one end of said brace insertable within said central opening to detachably and pivotally connect said brace to said first bracket, means on said one end of said brace insertable into said radially-spaced openings to hold said brace at any selected angle relative to said wall, an elongated substantially hollow tubular member having one end thereof telescopically received within the other end of said brace, said hollow tubular member being rotatable about the axis of said brace, a seat fixedly secured to the other end of said member, means coacting with said base and said member to hold said seat in a normally horizontal adjusted position, a hollow tubular strut having one of its ends connected with said other end of said brace, the other end of said strut extending toward said one end of said brace, the longitudinal axes of said brace and strut forming an acute angle therebetween, and means on the other end of said strut insertable within said opening formed in said second bracket to detachably and pivotally connect said strut thereto.

3. A shower stall seat as defined in claim 2, and a seat back pivotally connected to said seat.

4. A shower stall seat as defined in claim 3, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said seat back relative to said seat, said means permitting pivotal movemen beyond degrees, but less than degrees.

5. A shower stall seat supported on a wall of said stall and comprising, in combination, a first bracket fixedly secured to said wall, said first bracket having a horizontal plate extending laterally therefrom, said plate having a central opening extending transversely therethrough and a plurality of transversely-extending openings spaced radially therefrom, a second bracket fixedly secured to said wall below said first bracket, said second bracket includl1 ing a horizontal plate extending laterally therefrom and having an opening extending transversely therethrough aligned with said central opening formed in said first plate, an elongated hollow tubular brace, means on one end of said brace insertable within said central opening to detachably and pivotally connect said brace to said first bracket, means on said one end of said brace insertable into said radially-spaced openings to hold said brace at any selected angle relative to said wall, an elongated bar having an end thereof telescoped within said brace and axially movable relative thereto, means on said brace cooperating with means on said bar for holding said bar in axially-adjusted position, a collar fixedly secured to the other end of said bar, said collar being internally threaded, a bolt threadedly received within said collar, a normally horizontal seat, means on one end of said bolt cooperating with means on said seat to hold said seat 1.2 in its normally horizontal position and, optionally, to hold said seat in a position normal with respect thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 143,228 Doyle Sept. 30, 1873 336,220 Farrar Feb. 16, 1886 815,546 Mefferd Mar. 20, 1906 1,007,590 Miller Oct. 31, 1911 1,584,085 England May 11, 1926 1,893,702 Glenn Jan. 10, 1933 1,894,991 Hayes Jan. 24, 1933 2,024,045 Johnson Dec. 10, 1935 2,824,600 Braumgardner Feb. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 368,152 France Sept. 27, 1906 640,866 Germany Jan. 14, 1937 

1. A SHOWER STALL SEAT SUPPORTED ON A WALL OF SAID STALL AND COMPRISING, COMBINATION, A FIRST BRACKET FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID WALL, SAID FIRST BRACKET HAVING A HORIZONAL PLATE EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM, SAID PLATE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH AND A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY-EXTENDING OPENINGS SPACED RADIALLY THEREFROM, A SECOND BRACKET FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID WALL BELOW SAID FIRST BRACKET, SAID SECOND BRACKET INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL PLATE EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM AND HAVING AN OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH ALIGNED WITH SAID CENTRAL OPENING FORMED IN SAID FIRST PLATE, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW TUBULAR BRACE, MEANS ON ONE END OF SAID BRACE INSERTABLE INTO SAID CENTRAL OPENING TO DETACHABLY AND PIVOTALLY CONNECT SAID BRACE TO SAID FIRST BRACKET, MEANS ON SAID ONE END OF SAID BRACE INSERTABLE INTO SAID RADIALLY-SPACED OPENINGS TO HOLD SAID BRACE AT ANY SELECTED ANGLE RELATIVE TO SAID WALL, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER TELESCOPICALY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BRACE, MEANS HOLDING SAID MEMBER IN FIXED AXIALLYADJUSTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID BRACE, A NORMALLY HORIZONTAL SEAT, MEANS CONNECTING SAID SEAT WITH SAID MEMBER, A HOLLOW TUBULAR STRUT HAVING ONE OF ITS ENDS CONNECTED WITH SAID OTHER END OF SAID BRACE, THE OTHER END OF SAID STRUT EXTENDING TOWARD SAID ONE END OF SAID BRACE, THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID BRACE AND STRUT FORMING AN ACUTE ANGLE THEREBETWEEN, AND MEANS ON SAID OTHER END OF SAID STRUT INSERTABLE WITHIN SAID OPENING FORMED IN SAID SECOND BRACKET TO DETACHABLY AND PIVOTALLY CONNECT SAID STRUT THERETO. 